A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
WINDHOEK, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership.
According to the Electoral Commission of Namibia, nearly 1.45 million eligible voters are registered either domestically or at Namibian diplomatic missions abroad.
Across the country's 121 constituencies, polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and will close at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT).
Among the prominent presidential candidates are Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), Bernadus Swartbooi of the Landless People's Movement, and Panduleni Itula of the Independent Patriots for Change.
SWAPO has been Namibia's ruling party since the nation gained independence in 1990. In the 2019 elections, the late President Hage Geingob led SWAPO to victory, securing over 56 percent of the National Assembly vote.
As the polls proceed, Namibians eagerly await the results, which will shape the country's political landscape for the next five years. ■
Voters vote at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah(R), presidential candidate of the South West Africa People's Organization, casts her ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Voters wait outside a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)
Voters wait outside a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Voters wait outside a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Voters wait outside a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Panduleni Itula, presidential candidate of the Independent Patriots for Change, casts his ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, presidential candidate of the South West Africa People's Organization, casts her ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Voters wait outside a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)
Panduleni Itula, presidential candidate of the Independent Patriots for Change, casts his ballot at a polling station in Windhoek, Namibia, Nov. 27, 2024. Namibia's eighth presidential and National Assembly elections kicked off early Wednesday, with 15 presidential candidates and 21 political parties vying for leadership. (Photo by Musa C Kaseke/Xinhua)
